Rectifying and interrupting alternating currents.



PATENTED AUG. 27, 190? o. ROTHENSTEIN. INTBRRUPHNG LTBRNATING UUR.

REG-mmm A ,P .PPLIOATION FILED HOV. l', 1906.

OTTO ROTHENSTEIM'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECTIETYIN AND INTERRUPTING ALTERNATING GURRENTS.

Specification of Letters -Patent.

' Patented Aeg. 27, 1907.

ippncaeon sind November 1,1906.` serial No. 341,575'.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO Ro'rHENsTErN-,a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the efficient manner. The apparatus forthis purpose is,

shown in the accompanying drawing which represents a sectional elevationof the whole arrangementconsisting of the following parts thel'circuitbeing' represented diagmmmaticallyzi l l A receptacle l, preferably anenameled steel jar, is

. filled with a refrigerating iiuid, 24, preferably common Water. Thejar l is covered with an annular ring 3',

'made of insulating material, preferably porcelain or` the like, saidring being providedwith stops 4 to prevent it from sliding off. Analuminium cup 5 rests with its spun rim upon the annular ring 3.Attached to said cup' .is the bindingr'or terminal post 6. The' cup 5 isagain covered with an annular ring 7 made-of with a solution ofphosphhte of potash or the like; sub/( stitutes for this liquid 9 beingWell known in the art. A similar shaped cup of smaller dimensions l0rests with its fiange upon the annular ring 7. This cup 10 is made ofsome inert or passiver conductor as per instance lead, cast iron, or.carbon. -It is filled to about three quarters of' its height withdiluted sulfuric acid 26.

The cup l0 is provided with a cover ll, preferably porcelain. As shownclearly in the drawing this cover ll consists of a round centerparthaving a threaded hole and a number of-legs with which its location inthe center vof the cup l0 is fully assured. A tube l2 preferably made ofporcelain has one end threaded to fit into the threaded hole of thecover ll, the other end being shaped conical with a small hole in thecenter. A bracket-13, preferably made of aluminium, is secured to thecover 1l by means of the screws 14, The bracket I3` is bored out toreceive the nut l5 suitably grooved and held in position by the setscrew lin suchV a manner that said. mit l5 can be readily rotated bymeans of the milled hard rubber disk 17 which is fastened to theshoulder of the nut l5 with the pin 18. A threaded stem 19 fits into thethreaded hole of the nut l5 and has on its upper end a ball shapedconnecting or terminal post 20 with a. clamp screw 2l. For the sake ofconvenience this terminal post 20 is shaped to receive connecting wiresfrom. above or front and rear While the clamping screw 2l can beinserted at will from the right or left. The lower end of the threadedstem 19 is fastened in the upper portion of the clamping dog 22, bymeans'of the screw 23, while the screw 24 serves the purpose ofholdingthe active electrode 25 properly in position. This active electrode 25consists usually of a platinum point secured into a steel rod in asubstantial and permanent manner, preferably by brazing. The joint andthe steel rod is usually covered with a lead tubing to preventcorrosion.

Adjustment of the platinum point is quickly accomplished by turning themilled hard rubber disk 17 which causes the threaded stem 19 to rise orto descend, according to the direction in which the nut is turned,

loose fit, prevents the stem 19 from turning. There is nol sliding orrubbing connection through which the current has to pass as theconnecting wire is directly 'attached to the stem 19. Heating caused byimperfect Contact and the .comparatively heavy current, employed withdevices of this class, is thereby avoided.

The action of theapparatus is readily understood: One pole of thealternating-current circuit, supplied by an alternator 26, is attachedto the terminal post 6. Connection is made from the terminal post 20 tothe device, indicated at 27 to be supplied with rectified interruptedalternating curreut. The circuit is completed by a connection fromthesecond terminal of said device to the other pole' of the 4alternatingcurrent supply. If any regulating devices as for instance a Arheostatisused it should be interposed in the last mentioned connection. Thelaluminium cup 5 acts as a unipolar resistancepreventing the passage ofpositive impulse The inert electrode is formed by the cup l0 which actsalso as inert elec'de in the interrupter part of the device. I am awareof the fact that rectify-l ing interrupters have been devised beforethis, in which a'singl'e aluminium electrode is, combined with an activeelectrode of restricted surface, the electrolyte being usually aphosphate solution. The present invention is the result of my experiencewith such dei vices. Ihave foundin actual practice that apparatusoffthis class have several vinherent disadvantages. The action of anelectrolytic interrupter is based upon the spontaneous development ofheat on the active electrode, while the rectifying ,properties of thealuminium conductivity of rectiying solutions is considerably smallerthan that of diluted sulfuric acid commonly employed in electrolyticinterrupters.' To compensate for this low conductivity theI activeelectrode must be electrode is usually made of platinum such largeactive electrodes are more expensive, and the amount of platinumconsumed is considerably increased. The conas the clampfdog 22 embracingthe bracket I3 with a` rapidly decrease with an increase of temperature.The 10i',`

larger, thus decreasing the frequency. As the active sumption of theplatinum is further accelerated by the decreased 'rectifying property ofthe aluminium as the l 10 'the structural combination of thetheelectrolyi-ie interriipter in the uieiiiiei' ci `suspended therein,melius in vnr agei emoiirii. el' iiverseiirient impulses caused i) .fthe heating of he Ieeiiyiiig solution mi rates the platinum electrodes.A'iieui'iscqi rai-e rectifying Celis arid linieriupters are gene allypre erred, although they are bulky and expciiei By reetiiyiiig cell withesciibed and. shown here, preserve the metil-ying action of the' aiu.;mirnium iully and obtain :in eeie'rit, self ceutaime anii reliableapparat-iis, with f. Considerable decreaee of rsi cest and maintenance.

am :iwre that various miner changes i'iiiiy be intruduce/l Withii'tdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention o whiciiffl cin-ini:

1. lii an elei'ztrolytic interi-limer: A vessel containing a suitableelectrolyte, an active elect me oi res L'icted surface e amount ot'sucii restricted sui-face, a source of alternating currente oi highervoltage than the polarization voltage. and unimi-t electrade of largeSurface common te iii interrupteuaud te a rectifyiig cellstru'etiiriiliy couiimed w 1i said ini1er rupter, together with thetiiying cell.

in electrolytic rect plurality of arms embracing ing cell: @insisting of:iiiV aluminium electrode, zi s iiiiziliie eieetrelyie and un inertlelectro-3e. adapted lo sL te in tlie same capacity in someV seconddevice which is structurally combined with smid rectiiyiiig' cell'.

3. A i'eetiiying ele'ctrolytic interruper ensit'mg ofv a suitablevessel, au active electrode of restricted suiiice, sispeuderl in asuitable electrolyte, s. reeti 'ing cell Structurgiily associated withsaid iiiierrupter, zin inert electrode common to both devices and aeoiiiee of alternating polarisation of said inte runter.

i. .la "olytlc intel-mieter vessel con' iei'igerriilzig i. :i ii.ziel-ond Wesel 0i rectil'yinj.; material :md provided wi e blniagoriermiual posi l-.i c0iitaining a suitable electrolyte suspended.there' a tliii-f vessel of inert iiigiterial, centiiining suitableelectrolyte suspended in the second vessel, uuxziilxir ring-s. ofinsulating mute el eepursimg.; zioresald vessels eiectrie y, :i suitablysiiaped helder ef insulating material carrying :in iii4 salati-Lig tube,adapten to receive an active uleen-ode of restricted si ce, :uid 'anemiaio vary the ei Sed pari; o said active electrode.

5. in im eleelrolytie inierriiptei': l

siiliiiing holder. e metallic bracket, adapted to receive ilie iiuli ofa suitably formed iiziudwlieel, provided with zi threudedliole iii illsu Yiter of sai liuli, u groeve iii sfiid liuli, u sei, Screw iii esziidbracket coiipernt. wit-li s id groove. :i lirfaded siem. providedwitli uterl Einst on lie outer ene; ii clamping deg; eonristini: e limb, ed edto receive tile inner end 0 said. tlii'eiifleii stem nml the p' emi ofthe active eleeirede; :imi

secure Lelget to the insulating he aim aid insulating' tube; mesme tosecure il of said tliiwde stem :mii 'Ilie'uiiper emi e1 said actielectrode wit is the bore e the liiib of eier-mili clamping dog. allsubstantially' as described and shown.

lu testimony whereof, i have hereiirit set my hand.

OTTO ROTHEIS'I.' ILL Witnesses z y Gee. i3. Bmmiiize, El. Si. CuiiwiwA

